Welcome to Cannock Motorsports! The official site of the #21 Tobias Slingshot piloted by Fred Cannock and the #121 Tobias Slingshot driven by John Mann.
John Mann served as crew chief in 2007 and as both driver and crew chief in 2008. John had a great rookie season with multiple heat wins and one exciting feature win! He battled through some tough weeks but looks ready to have a breakout sophomore campaign in 2009!
Fred Cannock had what he describes as an, "just ok season" in 2008. After an offseason to contemplate the way to attack the 2009 season Fred is looking to be competitive every time he hits the track.
The Cannock Motorsports Team can be found at Oakland Valley Race Park on most Saturdays from April until November. You can get info on the track at http://www.ovrpdirtoval.com/ Feel free to come and check out the excitement that is Slingshot racing. You will love it!
Crash, Boom, Bang
June 6, 2009
John and I had had plenty of company this week! My parents, sister, nephew, his girlfriend, 2 great nieces, Uncle Bud, Aunt June, Wendy, Kaitie, Zac and Jake were all at OVRP rooting us on. After a week of pouring rain I was shocked to see how dusty the track was. The cars felt like they were on ice during the early part of the day. John got his car better faster and ran a great first heat race. He made a strong move in turn 3 diving under the 32 and doing a picture perfect slide job taking the second position and holding it to the checkers. My car was still way too loose and I finished fourth (last). There was a horrendous crash during this heat. The 6 (he was the 5.5) hit the turn two wall with such force that he was launched a couple of feet into the air and thrown back across the track. John and I almost got caught up in it but we got lucky. This time. The driver of the 6 said he never saw the wall through the dust. The car was badly damaged but with some help and a hell of a lot of elbow grease and determination he got the car ready for the feature.
In the second heat I started on the pole and John started third. I was really sweating it because I wanted to win in front of the family. I was lucky. John had changed a few things on my car which had it handling much better and I ran away with the win. John ran a hard race and finished third. John was building a real strong weekend run.
John started fourth and I was sixth. I snuck by him off the start and we were dicing in the pack, running strong. I was behind the 87 going into 3 and John was right on my rear bumper. The 87 spun in front of me and I spun trying to avoid a direct hit. John didn't see me spin and T boned me wide open. The impact crushed both my side rubrails. John got plowed into after hitting me and the impacts ripped his front rubrail off the car, caved in both side rubrails, ripping the welds on one and had the rear bumper caved in. We both had pretty good body damage as well. I kept moving but got a cone wedged under my wheel so I had to stop and get it pulled clear. I caught up with the end of the pack but John was still sitting at the point of impact. He had his bell rung pretty good and was just getting his wits back together when we came back around. He went to the back and continued to race. Next time park it John! We ran hard but finished seventh and eigth.
I am proud of how we have been adjusting and adapting to what is being thrown at us. It's been a lot of fun so far this year.
Thanks to our families for all the support this week and to all of you throughout our racing "careers."
